Mac Mini 2011 mystery port...

[FrancoisC]

Anyone know what's the use of this red circled port on the mini logic board?

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I'm guessing it must be used by apple for some reason, but I was wondering if anybody knew...

(Original image courtesy of ifixit)

 

[brownn]

According to the ifixit tear down it is a "Intel BD82HM65 Platform Controller Hub"

http://ark.intel.com/products/52808/Intel-BD82HM65-PCH

 

[FrancoisC]

Not the red square, it's the red circle.

It's a connector of some sort...

 

[vert18]

Not the red square, it's the red circle.

It's a connector of some sort...

hard to see that red squiggle circle in the middle of the board..
oh, dunno what it is..

 

[Adamantoise]

Not the red square, it's the red circle.

It's a connector of some sort...

Um, that's just a generic IC.

 

[FrancoisC]

Um, that's just a generic IC.

I'll post a picture of another angle soon, it's not an IC. Anyway, I'll try to get the service manual for this mini, must be written somewhere.

The 2010 mini did not have this port.

 

[esmith]

2011 Mac Mini service manual doesn't have this listed

 

[FrancoisC]

Just great...

Oh well, maybe it's used during assembly or for diagnostic reason.

 

[57004]

It looks like one of the SATA ports. They have the same connector type.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Chances are that it's just a diagnostic port for use while in the factory.

 

[Heilage]

It's a diagnostic port, yeah. If you look closely, all logic boards in Macs have them, in pretty much that form factor.